Monday, June 7, 2010
One Dead in Pickens Wreck (6/7/10)
The South Carolina Highway Patrol has released new information about a deadly crash in Pickens County on Sunday. Investigators stated that there were three people in a car that was involved. Troopers said a Pontiac Grand Am was traveling south on Highway 137 Sunday night around 6pm when it went off the road, struck a tree, and broke into several pieces. Investigators said one person in the car was killed. Two others were taken to the hospital for treatment. The Pickens County Coroner's Office has not released the name of the victim. Troopers are still investigating to see why the car went off the road.
Community invited to Honor Their Service (6/7/10)
The community is encouraged to welcome Marines from the Marine Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune, N.C to the Upstate on Monday, June 7. Everyone is invited to participate by lining the parade route along Hwy 123 from Easley to Seneca and Hwy 130 from Seneca to Keowee Key. The visiting Marines are scheduled to arrive in Seneca around 3:30pm. This marks the second year the Keowee Key community has partnered with the Marines and the Roger C. Peace Hospital Rehabilitation division to host this event. Larry Druffel, one of the event organizers gives details, “These Marines have served their country in Iraq and Afghanistan and will spend three days of rest and relaxation enjoying the hospitality and amenities of the Keowee Key community.” Last year 150 motorcyclists led the motorcade to recognize the sacrifices of the Marines. Thousands of people also lined the parade route to pay tribute. Tim Callahan, another event organizer tells more, “The Marines of the Special Operations Command are the people that go out and are involved in a lot of things that we never hear about. These spend a lot of time away from home in training, even when they are back stateside they are not with their families very much. So what we are able to do with this is to give back to them a little bite and say you do so much for us, here’s what we can do for you. We call our program Honoring Their Service and its quit simple we honor the service of those who serve for us.” For more information on the parade route, or to participate in the motorcycle escort, visit the event’s web site at www.c4warriors.org.
SDOC graduates 699 on Saturday (6/7/10)
On Saturday, 699 graduates from the School District of Oconee County walked across the stage at Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum. The Class of 2010 earned an impressive $12,452,733 in scholarship monies. Congratulations to the Salutatorian and Valedictorian from each high school: Christian Bare, Salutatorian and Carly Price, Valedictorian from Tamassee-Salem High School; Sam Burchfield, Salutatorian and Hunter Sockwell, Valedictorian from Seneca High School; Brandon Eugene Lynch, Salutatorian and Amanda Caroline Martin, Valedictorian for West-Oak High School and Anna Curtiss Alig, Salutatorian and Isabelle Amanda Khurshudyan, Valedictorian from Walhalla High School. In addition to the 699 graduates from the four high schools, the School District of Oconee County’s Adult Education Program awarded 103 diplomas in its ceremony held Thursday evening at Gignilliat Park. “This is an exciting time as we graduate another group of young people from our Oconee schools. I know these new graduates have the necessary skills to be successful in continuing their education, serving in the military, or entering the world of work. Our heartfelt congratulations to these students and their families,” said Dr. Mike Lucas, District Superintendent of Education.
Moulder to inspect Courthouse (6/7/10)
The courtrooms of the Oconee County Courthouse are to be busy today. The county's troubled courthouse building is due for a special visitor. The county's new administrator, Scott Moulder, is expected to take his first look in his new official capacity. Last week the county council rehired the original contractor to fix the courthouse problems.
Seneca City Pool Closed for the Summer (6/7/10)
Finding a place to cool off this summer in Seneca will be a little harder this year. The city’s 56-year-old pool will not be opening this summer, explains Seneca Recreation Director Rick Lacey, “We feel under DHEC regulations for the pool, which is 56-years-old. So up to this year we have been fine but it was going to have to be resurfaced, pumps put in, and several different things that had to be done which would have exceed over $200,000. So it is just something that you still have a 50-year-old pool if you put $200,000 in it and its just something we will look at and try another direction.” Two full-time and seven part-time workers are being effected by the pool closing and will be out of work this summer. The city plans to study the aging pool over the next year and develop a course of action to remedy the situation. Budget cuts and the national recession inhibited the city from doing anything about the pool this fiscal year.
Money trouble for the Blue Ridge Arts Council (6/7/10)
The economy has helped create a money problem for the Blue Ridge Arts Council in Seneca. Contributors of the non-profit are being told, the Blue Ridge Arts Council is in a position of no cash flow, although fixed assets are appropriate for an organization such as theirs. A memo suggests part of the problem was that while the Arts Council was doing projects the need to raise funds went unattended. The office staff has been reduced from three to two and the former grants coordinator has returned on an interim basis. Two fundraising projects have begun for the Blue Ridge Arts Council; one is the sale of tulip bulbs for spring and fall planting and the other is a plan to sell pieces to a mosaic.
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